Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
What Buyers Say
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Excellent optical performance
- Sturdy yet lightweight build
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Versatile zoom range
- Linear focus mode for video
Cons
- Limited shallow depth of field
- Focus-by-wire system not linear
- No built-in gear ring for cine use
- Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
The Samyang 16mm f/2.0 manual focus lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional sharpness, micro-contrast, and image quality, especially given its affordable price. Users love it for landscape and astrophotography, praising the fast f/2.0 aperture and solid build, though many note it is quite large and heavy on APS-C bodies. Manual focus is generally well-accepted for static subjects but challenging for moving ones. A few buyers were surprised by its size due to misleading product images but still found the optical performance excellent.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Great micro-contrast and rendering
- Fast f/2.0 aperture
- Solid build quality
- Excellent for landscapes and astro
Cons
- Large and heavy on APS-C
- Challenging for moving subjects
- Manual focus only (no AF confirm chip on some)
- Misleading product images (size mismatch)
- Not ideal for full frame (vignetting)
Scores
Specifications
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm | Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 12 mm | 16 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 35 mm | 16 mm |
| Elements | 14 | 13 |
| Groups | 9 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 4★ | 2 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 1 |
| Coating | Nano Surface Coating | UMC |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8★ |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Canon EF-S |
| Format | micro-four-thirds | APS-C★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.31 kg★ | 0.58 kg |
| Filter Thread | 58 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Stabilization Stops | 5 stops★ | — |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 150 mm★ | 200 mm |
| Max Magnification | 0.21x★ | — |
Pros & Cons
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm
- Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
Samyang CS SY16M-C 16mm
- Strong macro (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong optical (78th percentile)
- Below average af (15th percentile)15th %ile
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 22 specs.
